Chameleons?

[FireWater]

My 8 year old son has taken an interest in reptiles. He has narrowed down his decision and wants to try a Veiled Chameleon. Does anyone have experience with keeping these or point me in the right direction to research?

[Gilbert]

i would contact gabe(Neptune)
Gabe's Fish and Exotic Pets
5418 Glen Ridge San Antonio tx, 78229

[hobogato]

for a first time herp owner, a bearded dragon is a much better choice. chameleons are not touchy feely pets, but bearded dragons tolerate frequent handling by the owners. since it is for an 8 year old, that is a big factor. also, they are much easier to feed.

[FireWater]

I will try to get by Gabe's soon to check it out and pick his brain. Thanks

Ace - touchy feely is not what he is worried about. I want to research it and come up with the best answer for him. I just worry with a touchy feely dragon that means he will sooner or later get away from Xander and then the race will be on to keep it away from the 2 hunting dogs and the cat. Luckily he is not dead set on anything yet

[Troutmasters02]

I agree with Ace, I use to own and breed Veiled Chameleons and they can become very aggressive - don't even like to be looked at. If you do go with a Veiled, be sure to keep the door opening away from your child, they like to run for any possible openings. Pm me if you have specific questions, I owned several species of chameleons for years.

[profntbtr]

i concur. a friend of mine had a veiled chameleon and it did nothing but bite him, alot.

[DrMark]

I bred bearded dragons for years until fairly recently. Ace is right.
This is where you should start.
Get small paperback book on bearded dragons:
Can get it here used for about $1.

http://www.amazon.com/General-Mainte.../dp/1882770404

mark

[medi]

kind of beating a dead horse, but I owned a veiled chameleon for several years, and was fortunate enough to have one that actually liked to be handled, but that is a VERY RARE case. Chameleons are beautiful, and extremely enjoyable to watch, but I am not sure an eight year old would be able to handle the extreme care required to keep them healthy. Especially not for a first attempt at reptiles. I also agree a bearded dragon would be more appropriate, or maybe if he is interested a small snake, such as a small milksnake.

[FireWater]

Thanks for the feedback. I believe we have decided to hold off for now. I make my son research anything he wants to start or participate in before hand. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. He read the replies with me and we researched online and at the bookstore - he has decided that with other things going on he wants to wait for now before adding any other animals to care for.